Late in 1994, it was revealed that the Arzamas Machinery Plant had developed and placed in production a new 4x4 special-purpose vehicle called the GAZ-39344, or SIAM as it is also known.

This has been developed to carry out a variety of missions such as border patrol, reconnaissance and the protection of high-risk areas such as airports and fuel installations.

The SIAM was first shown in public in 1994 in a bullion transport configuration during an exhibition in Nizhny Novgorod, some 500 km to the east of Moscow.

As far as is known the SIAM is not used by the Russian Army.

To reduce development and procurement costs, proven and in production subsystems have been used wherever possible in the design of the GAZ-39344 SIAM reconnaissance vehicle.

The Arzamas Machinery Plant is also responsible for the BTR-80 and BTR-90 series of 8 x 8 amphibious armoured personnel carriers. Previously the Arzamas Machinery Plant was part of the Molotov GAZ Plant which also built the BRDM-2 and BRDM-1 amphibious reconnaissance vehicles covered in earlier entries.

The hull of the GAZ-39344 is made of all-welded steel armour construction that provides the occupants with protection from small arms fire and shell splinters. Bulletproof windows are provided in the front and sides of the hull.

The vehicle can carry a total of six personnel, driver seated at the front on the left, vehicle commander to his right rear and four men in the back on individual seats. The last are seated two either side of each side door facing each other.

In either side of the hull is a large forward-opening door which allows the occupants to enter and leave the vehicle rapidly. Each of these doors has a large bulletproof window and is claimed to have a sophisticated locking system to prevent unauthorised entry. The right door also has a firing port.

There are also two firing ports in the left side of the hull, one either side of the door, and one in the right side of the hull, which allow the occupants to fire their small arms from inside the hull with a high degree of safety.

Mounted on the roof of the vehicle is a one-man manually operated turret which is the same as that fitted to the original BTR-80 (8 x 8) APC and armed with one 14.5 mm KPVT and one 7.62 mm PKT machine gun. A white light/infra-red searchlight is mounted over the weapons and moves in elevation with the weapons.

A total of 500 rounds of 14.5 mm and 2,000 rounds of 7.62 mm ammunition is carried. The 14.5 mm KPVT machine gun has a maximum range of 2,000 m while the 7.62 mm PKT machine gun has a maximum range of 1,500 m.

Turret traverse is manual through a full 360° while weapon elevation is from -5 to +60°. Like most Russian turrets of this type, no hatch cover is provided.

The engine compartment is located at the rear of the SIAM and separated trorn the crew compartment by a bulkhead.

Standard equipment includes a central tyre-pressure regulation system that allows the driver to adjust the tyre pressure to suit the type of ground being crossed, air conditioning system, navigation system, vehicle intercom system, communications equipment, loudspeaker and blue flashing lights.

The GAZ-39344 is understood not to be a replacement for the BRDM-2 but is aimed more at the paramilitary and internal security market.

Other versions of the GAZ-39344 are also available including a bullion transport vehicle.

In low-rate production. In service in the civil/ paramilitary sector. As far as is known it is not in service with the Russian Army.